NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) was rigged up to spot the comet if it made it out the other side, but Dean Pesnell, SDO project scientist, says in a canned statement "We didn't see Comet ISON in SDO. "So we think it must have broken up and evaporated before it reached perihelion."

The European Space agency has offered a more definite assessment of events in this tweet.

Our #SOHO scientists have confirmed, comet #IISON is gone , thanks for sharing this comet-watching night with us

Thus ends one of the more interesting incidents in recent solar system history. ISON was only spotted in 2012 but was quickly identified as likely to put on a show. Some predicted that show would be spectacular, perhaps even out-shining the moon.

Such a light-show did not eventuate and ISON has become just some more stuff for the Sun to crunch into life-giving warmth. And another reminder, as if it was needed, of just how amazing the universe is and how tiny we are in the scheme of things. ®